Commission picks 21 districts for project to end poverty

By Wairimu Kamande

Twenty-one districts have been selected for a pioneer programme on poverty eradication in Kenya.

Poverty Eradication Commission Chairman John Koech said the Government had reserved money and created a fund to advance money to economically viable groups to fight poverty.

General (rtd) Koech consequently urged Kenyans to form groups that can undertake income-generating projects to attract funding through the pioneer programme that, he said, if proves a success, will be rolled out in other districts.

Speaking in Thika, where he handed over cheques from the commission’s kitty to self-help groups, Koech said the funds would only be given to groups, as the Government had realised that a thin spread of the money was not effectively helping in the fight against poverty.

"It is for this reason that 21 districts were selected for the pioneer funding. The Government will then expand the funding later," he said.

The commission chair told beneficiaries to put it to prudent use and avoid squandering it.

"The money is not meant for political gain and should therefore be put into good use," he cautioned.

Koech said the commission was committed to seeing poverty levels reduced. "We know we will always have the poor among us, but want to reduce their numbers to say 20 per cent where the prevalence rate is 40 per cent," he said.

He, at the same time, called for a strong political will for the commission to succeed.

The commission extends loans to groups at subsidised rates. The groups repay with seven per cent interest starting three months after being granted.

In Thika West District 18 groups benefited from Sh4 million from the Government, which was handed to them on Monday.